Natio may not be a household name in every bathroom cabinet yet its reputation among Australian beauty insiders is quietly impressive. The brand has spent three decades perfecting plant-powered formulas that favour gentle efficacy over flashy gimmicks, so when a new jar lands on my nightstand I tend to pay attention.
Their latest contender, Ageless Extra Firming Night Cream, arrives with a title that sounds like it is moonlighting as a personal trainer for your face. Natio promises that antioxidant rich rosehip, vitamin C and a cocktail of omega-heavy oils will help skin wake up looking nourished and a little more lifted. A simple nightly routine of upward strokes is all that stands between you and those results, according to the press blurb.
Curious whether this pink-lidded promise could hold its own against my dehydrated combination skin, I devoted a full two weeks to nightly testing. I kept the rest of my regimen static so any changes could be fairly pinned on the cream itself.
Disclaimer: this review is not paid or sponsored. All opinions are drawn from my personal experience and, as with any skincare, individual results can and do vary.
What Is Ageless Extra Firming Night Cream?
Ageless Extra Firming Night Cream is Natio’s entry in the overnight treatment category, a corner of skincare designed to work while you sleep when skin is in its natural repair mode. Unlike daytime moisturisers that must double as makeup primers or UV shields, overnight creams can focus purely on recovery and barrier support, making them richer and more nutrient dense.
This formula combines antioxidant rosehip and a stable form of vitamin C with plant derived oils, butters and peptides. The goal is to replenish moisture, help counter the oxidative stress accumulated during the day and lend a subtle firming effect by morning. Applied nightly to a cleansed face and neck in upward strokes, it aims to leave skin feeling nourished and a bit more lifted on waking.
Did It Work?
In the spirit of rigorous skincare science I shelved my usual overnight treatment for three days before cracking open Ageless Extra Firming Night Cream (my bathroom felt strangely naked but I soldiered on). Fourteen nights seemed a decent window to gauge performance so the jar took pride of place on my bedside table and went on after cleansing and a hydrating toner, nothing else.
Night one impressed mostly on texture. The cream feels plush yet not greasy and spreads in that comforting way you want from a before bed ritual. Within minutes the surface tackiness disappeared leaving skin softly satin, a finish pleasant enough that I did not mind the mild herbal rose scent lingering nearby.
By the third morning I noticed a reliable hit of hydration. My cheeks, which usually greet dawn with faint dehydration lines, looked smoother and foundation sat more evenly. The effect plateaued rather than snowballed yet consistency kept the gains in place.
Midway through the fortnight the promised “uplifted” look showed up only in subtle ways. I would not say my jawline tightened but the overall bounce felt slightly improved, a result I attribute to the peptide blend rather than any magic firming miracle. Those with very dry skin might crave an occlusive seal on top yet for combination skin the balance felt right.
Where the formula fell short was brightening. Vitamin C is present but in a supporting role and my post summer pigmentation spots stayed exactly where I left them. I also picked up a tiny clogged pore on my chin around day ten which cleared quickly once I dialed back the amount, suggesting richer oils may be better every second night for congestion-prone types.
After two weeks my complexion was consistently cushioned and comfortable, definitely nourished but only vaguely lifted. The cream did what a competent night moisturiser should, just not enough to unseat the workhorse already in my rotation. I will finish the jar happily yet I doubt I will repurchase unless a sale and nostalgia collide.
Ageless Extra Firming Night Cream’s Main Ingredients Explained
The first thing worth noting is that this formula is entirely free of animal derived materials, so vegans and vegetarians can dip in without hesitation. Water sits at the top of the list, closely followed by ethylhexyl stearate and propanediol which create the cushiony texture that makes the cream feel richer than its weight might suggest. Squalane steps in to mimic the skin’s own lipids, helping seal moisture while keeping transepidermal water loss low. A supporting cast of sweet almond, evening primrose and rosehip oils add omegas 3, 6 and 9 for barrier repair and a dose of antioxidants.
Speaking of antioxidants, the vitamin C arrives as sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a stable salt form that is less likely to oxidise in the jar. It targets dullness, though at a mid-list placement it functions more as maintenance than a heavy hitter. Peptides palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 are included to encourage collagen support and calm chronic micro-inflammation, lending that subtle springiness I noticed around day seven.
Hydration duties are shared between aloe juice, glycerin, butylene glycol and sodium hyaluronate. This quartet draws water into the epidermis so the richer emollients can lock it down. Dimethicone adds a silky glide and creates a breathable film to reduce overnight moisture loss. If you are sensitive to silicones take heart, the level feels balanced rather than smothering.
The formula is rounded out with a bouquet of essential oils: lavender, ylang ylang, geranium, lemon and rose absolute. They bring the spa-like scent but can be potential irritants for reactive or pregnancy-delicate skin. Citrus oils also have photosensitising potential though that risk is lower in a product used strictly at night.
On the comedogenic front there are a few usual suspects. Isopropyl palmitate, shea butter and ethylhexyl stearate all rank moderate on the clog-risk scale which means they can trap debris in pores prone to congestion. A comedogenic ingredient is one that can encourage the formation of blackheads or whiteheads, so if you break out easily consider applying the cream every second night or keeping it south of the T-zone.
Pregnancy safety is always individual but caution is the wiser path. While the formula contains no retinoids or salicylic acid, essential oils and peptides have limited pregnancy data. Expectant or nursing users should run the ingredient list past a health professional before committing.
Preservation and colour come courtesy of phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, titanium dioxide and iron oxides. They keep the cream stable in both look and performance. No added formaldehyde releasers or parabens appear here which will please ingredient minimalists.
In short the ingredients read like a who’s who of nourishing botanicals and lab-tested helpers with only a few watch-outs for sensitive or acneic skin types. If that sounds like your wheelhouse, the jar earns its place in an evening line-up.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
One fortnight in, here is the straightforward rundown.
What Works Well:
- Plush but lightweight texture sinks in quickly so pillows stay clean and skin feels hydrated by morning
- Peptide and antioxidant blend delivers a mild boost in firmness that keeps cheeks looking smoother and more cushioned
- Formula is vegan friendly and thoughtfully balanced with both humectants and barrier supporting oils making it versatile for normal through combination skin
What to Consider:
- Vitamin C sits mid list so brightening or pigment fading results are limited
- Richer emollients like isopropyl palmitate and shea butter may not suit very acne prone or oily T-zones if used nightly
- Essential oils lend a noticeable scent that sensitive or pregnancy cautious users might prefer to avoid
My Final Thoughts
After two weeks of nightly courtship Ageless Extra Firming Night Cream and I have settled into a comfortable if not exactly passionate relationship. It hydrates reliably, lends a whisper of firmness and feels luxurious on application, yet stops just shy of delivering the transformative lift its gym-in-a-jar title hints at. I have road-tested more overnight moisturisers than I care to count and, on balance, this one earns a respectable 7/10. I would pass the jar along to friends with normal, dry or gently combination skin who crave cushy hydration without the weight of a thick occlusive. If clogged pores are your archnemesis or if you are hunting for aggressive brightening you may want to keep browsing the night-cream aisle.
Speaking of browsing, a few alternatives have impressed me in past rotations. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is the dependable allrounder that somehow ticks hydration, barrier repair and price-point boxes for every skin mood. For a featherlight yet surprisingly restorative option the Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue from BIOSSANCE never lets my dehydrated patches see the dawn. Texture tweakers who like their actives on the zestier side might fall for Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum which pairs beautifully with a simple moisturiser on top. Finally, LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask remains my jet-lag hero whenever skin needs overnight resurrection without any heaviness.
Before you slather anything new remember that even the nicest cream can throw a tantrum on sensitive skin. A dime-sized patch test behind the ear or along the jaw is a boring but wise first step-sorry for sounding like an over-protective parent. Consistency is also key; any plumping and smoothing you notice will fade if the jar gathers dust on the shelf so keep up the nightly ritual and your reflection should stay happily cushioned.